Precipitation Management on Worksite

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling a work vehicle on a worksite. Receiving a weather data indicative of a rainfall of the worksite. Receiving a design topography data indicative of the worksite in a final configuration. Receiving a current topography data. Determining a low elevation location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall. Comparing the rainfall to a rainfall threshold. Devising a temporary design topography data and communicating the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a worksite management system and method for work vehicles, such as motor graders, and more particularly to precipitation management for a worksite.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Work vehicles such as motor graders are generally used to control the grade of a surface. Worksite management for work vehicles may include controlling work vehicles to achieve a site plan while manually adding deviations to the site plan in order to remove accumulated precipitation.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a work vehicle for operating on a worksite is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an implement coupled to the work vehicle and configured to move a ground material of the worksite. A data receiver is configured to acquire a weather data indicating a rainfall of the worksite and configured to acquire a design topography data indicating a design topography of the worksite in a final configuration. A current topography sensor is configured to acquire current topography data indicating a current topography of the worksite in a current configuration. A control system is in communication with the data receiver and the current topography sensor. The control system is configured to receive the weather data, receive the design topography data, receive the current topography data, determine a location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall, compare the rainfall to a rainfall threshold, devise a temporary design topography data to achieve a temporary configuration, and communicate the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.

In another embodiment, a work vehicle for operating on a worksite is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an implement coupled to the work vehicle and configured to move a ground material of the worksite. A data receiver is configured to acquire weather data indicating a rainfall of the worksite and configured to acquire design topography data indicating a design topography of the worksite in a final configuration. A current topography sensor is configured to acquire current topography data indicating a current topography of the worksite. A global positioning system is configured to provide a work vehicle location on the worksite. A control system is in communication with the data receiver, the current topography sensor, and the global positioning system. The control system is configured to receive the weather data, receive the design topography data, receive the current topography data, determine a location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall, compare the rainfall to a rainfall threshold, devise a temporary design topography data to achieve a temporary configuration, and communicate the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.

In yet another embodiment, a method of controlling a work vehicle on a worksite is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a weather data indicative of a rainfall of the worksite. Receiving a design topography data indicative of the worksite in a final configuration. Receiving a current topography data. Determining a low elevation location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall. Comparing the rainfall to a rainfall threshold. Devising a temporary design topography data and communicating the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work vehicle according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a work vehicle according to another embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a work vehicle according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for operating a work vehicle on a worksite.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the invention may include any combination of features from one or more dependent claims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively or separately, into any independent claim.

As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the phrase “at least one of” or “one or more of” indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C” indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a work vehicle 10 having an implement 15, an operator station 20 having an operator interface 25, and an engine 30. The work vehicle 10 may be any work vehicle 10 to which the implement 15 may be coupled, such as a crawler 35 or a motor grader 40, to name a few examples. The work vehicle 10 may be controlled by an operator located in the operator station 20 or by an operator located at a remote location (not shown) from the work vehicle 10. The operator may command the work vehicle 10 to move forward, move backward, and turn. Those commands are sent to hydraulic pumps, driven by the engine 30, which direct pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motors that turn tracks 45 or wheels 50. The engine 30 may be a diesel engine. Alternatively, the tracks 45 or wheels 50 may be turned by electric motors.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the implement 15 may be positioned at a front of the work vehicle 10 and may be attached to the work vehicle 10 in a number of different manners. In this embodiment, the implement 15 is attached to the work vehicle 10 through a linkage which includes a series of pinned joints, structural members, and hydraulic cylinders. This configuration allows the implement 15 to be moved up 55 and down 60 relative to a ground material 65 of a worksite 70, rotate around a vertical axis 75 (i.e., an axis normal to the ground), rotate around a longitudinal axis 80 (e.g., a fore-aft axis of the work vehicle 10), and rotate around a lateral axis 85 of the work vehicle 10 (i.e., a left-right axis of the work vehicle 10). These degrees of freedom permit the implement 15 to engage the ground material 65 at multiple depths and cutting angles. Alternative embodiments may involve implements 15 with greater degrees of freedom, such as those found on some motor graders 40, and those with fewer degrees of freedom, such as “pushbeam” style blades found on some crawlers 35 and implements 15 which may only be raised, lowered, and rotated around a vertical axis as found on some excavators and skidders.

The operator may command movement of the implement 15 from the operator station 20, which may be coupled to the work vehicle 10 or located remotely. In the case of the work vehicle 10, those commands are sent, including mechanically, hydraulically, and/or electrically, to a hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump, and selectively sends such pressurized hydraulic fluid to a system of hydraulic cylinders based on the operator's commands. The hydraulic cylinders, which in this case are double-acting, in the system are extended or retracted by the pressurized fluid and thereby actuate the implement 15. Alternatively, electronic actuators may be used.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 , the illustrated work vehicle 10 is a crawler 35 for moving the ground material 65. The crawler 35 includes tracks 45 including a left track 90 and a right track 95. As used herein, “left” and “right” refer to the left and right sides of the operator when the operator is sitting within the operator station 20 that is coupled to the work vehicle 10 and facing the implement 15. The illustrated implement 15 is a blade 100. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the implement 15 may be a bucket (not shown) or other attachment coupled to a wheel loader (not shown). A ripper 105 is attached to a rear of the work vehicle 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the illustrated work vehicle 10 is a motor grader 40 for spreading and leveling dirt, gravel, or other ground material 65. The motor grader 40 includes wheels 50 including a plurality of left wheels 110 (right wheels not shown). A drawbar assembly 115 or draft frame is coupled to the work vehicle 10. A drawbar 120 of the drawbar assembly 115 is mounted to a front location 125 of the work vehicle 10. Left and right actuators 130 support the drawbar 120. The left and right actuators 130 either raise or lower the drawbar 120. A side shift linkage arrangement 135 is coupled to the drawbar 120 and includes a side swing hydraulic actuator 140.

A circle drive assembly 145 is coupled to the drawbar assembly 115. The circle drive assembly 145 can include a rotatable circle member 150 coupled to the draft frame or drawbar assembly 115. The circle drive assembly 145 can be rotatable about a rotation axis 155 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

A moldboard 160 is coupled to the circle drive assembly 145 of the work vehicle 10 and configured to move the ground material 65 on the worksite 70. While a moldboard 160 is described herein, other types of implements 15 are contemplated by this disclosure. A ripper 105 is attached to a rear of the work vehicle 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a block diagram is provided of one example of a computing architecture 200 that includes work vehicle 10, a data receiver 205, a current topography sensor 235, a global positioning system (“GPS”) 210, and a control system 215. FIG. 3 illustratively shows that the work vehicle 10, the data receiver 205, the current topography sensor 235, the GPS 210, and the control system 215 are connected over a network 220. Thus, computing architecture 200 operates in a networked environment, where the network 220 includes any of a wide variety of different logical connections such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), controller area network (CAN) near field communication network, satellite communication network, cellular networks, or a wide variety of other networks or combination of networks. It is also noted that the control system 215 can be deployed on the work vehicle 10 such that the control system 215 performs the operations described herein without a networked connection. In addition, while the present description will primarily focus on an example of the control system 215 communicating with the work vehicle 10, it is noted that the same or similar functionality can be provided when communicating with a wide variety of other work vehicles 10 and/or remote systems.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the data receiver 205 may be coupled to the work vehicle 10. The data receiver 205 is configured to acquire a weather data 225 indicating at least a rainfall of the worksite 10 and is configured to acquire a design topography data 230 indicating a design topography of the worksite 10 in a final configuration 232. The weather data 225 may include the rainfall and the expected inches of rain, the rain location, and the expected start time and duration of the rainfall. Additionally, the weather data 225 may include predicted rainfall, snowfall, or other weather event that could lead to a build-up of precipitation on the worksite 70.

The design topography data 230 may include at least a contour of the worksite 70 in the final configuration 232 including any ditches, roadways, or other features. The design topography data 230 may also show the elevation across the worksite 70 including any low spots that may accumulate water or other precipitation.

A current topography sensor 235 may be coupled to the work vehicle 10. The current topography sensor 235 is configured to acquire current topography data 240 indicating a current topography of the worksite 70 in a current configuration 237. The current topography data 240 may include at least a contour of the worksite 70 including any ditches, roadways, or other features. The current topography data 240 may also show the elevation across the worksite 70 including any low spots that may accumulate water or other precipitation. The current topography sensor 235 may comprise at least one of a camera 245, a radar 250, or a lidar 255. The current topography sensor 235 may also comprise other imaging sensors, such as video cameras, laser-based sensors, LIDAR based sensors, and a wide variety of other imaging or other sensing systems.

The control system 215 is in communication with the data receiver 205, the current topography sensor 235 and the GPS 210. The control system 215 is configured to receive the weather data 225, receive the design topography data 230, receive the current topography data 240, determine a location 260 (FIG. 2 ) on the worksite 70 that may accumulate water from the rainfall or other weather event, compare the rainfall to a rainfall threshold, devise a temporary design topography data 265 to achieve a temporary configuration 267, and communicate the temporary design topography data 265 to the work vehicle 10 if the rainfall threshold is met. For example, the rainfall may be 1 inch and the rainfall threshold may be 3 inches. The temporary design topography data 265 comprises data that minimizes water accumulation on the location 260 of the worksite 70 in the temporary configuration 267. The temporary design topography data 265 may comprise at least one of a drainage ditch location 270, an added ground material location 275, or a delayed operation location 280. The drainage ditch location 270 may help to cause the rainfall to drain away to a desired location. The added ground material location 275 may help to cause the rainfall to disperse or runoff of the worksite 70. The delayed operation location 280 may involve leaving material at a location to cause the rainfall to disperse or runoff of the worksite 70 before completing the operation.

The GPS 210 is configured to provide a work vehicle location 285 on the worksite 10. The control system 215 is in communication with the GPS 210 and configured to control the work vehicle 10 to operate towards achieving the temporary configuration 267 if the rainfall threshold is met and to control the work vehicle 10 to operate towards achieving the final configuration 232 if the rainfall threshold is not met. Generally, the GPS 210 receives sensor signals from one or more sensors, such as a GPS receiver, a dead reckoning system, a LORAN system, or a wide variety of other systems or sensors, to determine a geographic position of the work vehicle 10 across the worksite 70.

The operator interface 25 may comprise a display 290 (FIG. 1 ) that may be provided in the operator station 20 of the work vehicle 10 or remote from the work vehicle 10. The display 290 may be configured to show an operator at least one of the temporary design topography data 240, the location 260, or the temporary configuration 267. Alternatively, the operator may enter work vehicle 10 commands via the display 290. For example, the operator may set the rainfall threshold using the display 290. The rainfall threshold will depend on a number of factors including current ground material 65 moisture content, ground material 65 composition (e.g., clay, sand), recent weather impacts, sun intensity, cloud cover, and wind.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , a flow diagram of a method 400 for controlling a work vehicle 10 on a worksite 70 is provided. At 405, weather data 225 indicative of a rainfall of the worksite 70 is received. At 410, a design topography data 230 indicative of the worksite 70 in a final configuration 232 is received. At 415, a current topography data 240 is received. At 420, a low elevation location 260 on the worksite 70 that may accumulate water from the rainfall is determined. At 425, the rainfall is compared to a rainfall threshold. At 430, a temporary design topography data 265 is devised and communicated to the work vehicle 10 if the rainfall threshold is met. At 435, at least one of the temporary design topography data 265, the location 260, or the temporary configuration 267 is displayed to an operator. At 440, the work vehicle 10 is controlled to operate towards achieving the temporary design topography data 265 if the rainfall threshold is met and controlling the work vehicle 10 to operate towards achieving the design topography data 230 if the rainfall threshold is not met. The temporary design topography data 265 comprises data that minimizes water accumulation on the location 260 of the worksite 70 in the temporary configuration. Wherein the temporary design topography data 265 comprises at least one of a drainage ditch location 270, an added ground material location 275, or a delayed operation location 280. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A work vehicle for operating on a worksite, the work vehicle comprising: an implement coupled to the work vehicle and configured to move a ground material of the worksite; a data receiver configured to acquire a weather data indicating a rainfall of the worksite and configured to acquire a design topography data indicating a design topography of the worksite in a final configuration; a current topography sensor configured to acquire current topography data indicating a current topography of the worksite in a current configuration; and a control system in communication with the data receiver and the current topography sensor, the control system configured to: receive the weather data, receive the design topography data, receive the current topography data, determine a location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall, compare the rainfall to a rainfall threshold, devise a temporary design topography data to achieve a temporary configuration, and communicate the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.
 2. The work vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system configured to provide a work vehicle location on the worksite, the control system in communication with the global positioning system and configured to control the work vehicle to operate towards achieving the temporary configuration if the rainfall threshold is met and to control the work vehicle to operate towards achieving the final configuration if the rainfall threshold is not met.
 3. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises data that minimizes water accumulation on the location of the worksite in the temporary configuration.
 4. The work vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to show an operator at least one of the temporary design topography data, the location, or the temporary configuration.
 5. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the work vehicle comprises at least one of a motor grader or a crawler.
 6. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the implement comprises a blade.
 7. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the current topography sensor comprises at least one of a camera, a radar, or a lidar.
 8. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises at least one of a drainage ditch location, an added ground material location, or a delayed operation location.
 9. A work vehicle for operating on a worksite, the work vehicle comprising: an implement coupled to the work vehicle and configured to move a ground material of the worksite; a data receiver configured to acquire weather data indicating a rainfall of the worksite and configured to acquire design topography data indicating a design topography of the worksite in a final configuration; a current topography sensor configured to acquire current topography data indicating a current topography of the worksite; a global positioning system configured to provide a work vehicle location on the worksite; and a control system in communication with the data receiver, the current topography sensor, and the global positioning system, the control system configured to: receive the weather data, receive the design topography data, receive the current topography data, determine a location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall, compare the rainfall to a rainfall threshold, devise a temporary design topography data to achieve a temporary configuration, and communicate the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.
 10. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises data that minimizes water accumulation on the location of the worksite in the temporary configuration.
 11. The work vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a display configured to show an operator at least one of the temporary design topography data, the location, or the temporary configuration.
 12. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the work vehicle comprises at least one of a motor grader or a crawler.
 13. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the implement comprises a blade.
 14. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the current topography sensor comprises at least one of a camera, a radar, or a lidar.
 15. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises at least one of a drainage ditch location, an added ground material location, or a delayed operation location.
 16. A method of controlling a work vehicle on a worksite comprising: receiving a weather data indicative of a rainfall of the worksite; receiving a design topography data indicative of the worksite in a final configuration; receiving a current topography data; determining a low elevation location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall; comparing the rainfall to a rainfall threshold; and devising a temporary design topography data and communicating the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising controlling the work vehicle to operate towards achieving the temporary design topography data if the rainfall threshold is met and controlling the work vehicle to operate towards achieving the design topography data if the rainfall threshold is not met.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises data that minimizes water accumulation on the location of the worksite in the temporary configuration.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying to an operator at least one of the temporary design topography data, the location, or the temporary configuration.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the temporary design topography data comprises at least one of a drainage ditch location, an added ground material location, or a delayed operation location. 